Cabinet folding bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. POULSON.

CABINET FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No.391,424. w Patented 00t.23,1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. POULSON. CABINET FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 391,424. Patented 001;. 28, 1888.

linrrnn BRITTON POULSON, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

GABiNET FOLDlNG BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,424, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed May 21, 1888.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRITTON PoULsoN, a

- provement in Cabinet Folding Bedsteads, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cabinet folding bedsteads; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a cabinet folding bed embodying my improvement,showing the same in position when folded or closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line a; w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, showing the bed extended from the cabinet. Figs. 4- and 5 are detail views.

A represents an inclosing case or cabinet, which may be arranged in the form of a dresser, as here shown, or in the form of any other preferred article of furniture, such as a wardrobe, bureau,or sideboard. The rear side of the case or cabinet is open and is partly covered by a suitable number of transverse boards, B; and in the sides of the case or cabinet are guideways G, the upper portions of which are vertical and the lower portions of which are horizontal, the said vertical and horizontal portions of the guide being connected by quarter-circular curves D. In the sides of the case or cabinet, near the front edges thereof and in the same vertical plane, are secured plates or castings E, which are recessed in the sides, so as to be flush therewith, and are provided with the lower curved cams or flanges, F, and with the curved cams or flanges G, which are arranged at a suitable distance above the cams or flanges F. The lower portion of the front side of the cabinet or dresser is open, as shown.

H represents a winch or drum, which is journaled in the sides of the case or cabinet, near the rear side thereof and at a suitable elevation, and is provided at one or both ends with a crank, I.

K represents the bedstead frame, the sides Serial No. 274,565. (No model.)

of which are each composed of a number of pieces, L, the ends of which are inclined upwardly toward each other, and the lower corners of the said pieces are connected on their inner sides by means of hinges M, the sides of the bedstead being thereby made flexible, so that the same may be run into the case or cabinet and caused to move upward therein in the guideways C. At the inner end of the bedstead-frame is a head-board, N, which connects the sides of the bedstead-frame, and to the upper edge of the said head-board is hinged a board, 0, which is adapted to be either folded down upon the upper edges of the sides when the bedsteadframe is withdrawn into the cabinet or case, or to be folded up, so as to come in contact with the horizontal table P of the case or cabinet when the bedstead is extended therefrom.

The foot-board R, which connects the outer ends of the sides of the bedstead, has panels in its upper portion to represent drawers S, and has drawers T- in its lower portion, which are guided in Ways U, that extend inward from the said foot-board under the bedstead.

The sides of the bedstead are connected at their lower portion by means of a series of transverse slats, V, the ends of which are secured to the pieces L, there being two of the said slats to each pair of said pieces L. To the inner upper corner of each piece L is hinged or pivoted a link-armflV, which is bent at right angles in transverse section, its outer vertical sides bearing against the outer sides of the bedstead and its upper horizontal sides bearing in countersunk notches or recesses X, with which the upper corners of the pieces L are provided. The extreme ends of the upper portions of each arm vV are bent downward at right angles, as at Y, and are adapted to enter corresponding countersunk grooves or notches Z at the inner ends of the recesses X.

From the foregoing description it will be un derstood that the said link-arms are adapted to connect the opposing upper corners of each 9 pair of pieces L when the bedstead-frame is extended'from the case or cabinet. In the vertical side of each arm XV is a longitudinal slot, A, the inner end of which is curved upwardly near the free end of the arm, and the said slots are engaged by studs B, which project outward from the outer upper corners of the pieces L. From the outer side of each arm \V, at the free end thereof, projects a stud, O.

D represents a. pair of cords or ropes, which have their outer ends attached to the slat V nearest the foot-board and near the ends of said slat, and have their inner ends attached to the winch or drum, the length of the said cords or ropes beingsuch that when the bedstead-frame is extended its full length from the case or cabinet, with the inner ends of said frame bearing on the outer corners of the guides O, the said cords or ropes'will be en tirely unwound from the drum or winch and will be taut.

E represents a pair of hooks, which are pivotedin the sides of the bedSteadframe, and are adapted to engage the board 0 when the latter is turned toa horizontal position. The said board 0 is provided with a spring bolt or catch, F, of suitable construction, which is adapted to engage a notch in the under side of the table I whenthe bedstead-frame is ex.- tended, so as to secure the board 0 in a vertical position, and the foot-board R is provided at its upper side, at its center, with a similar spring bolt or catch, which is adapted to engage the said notch in the table when the bedstead-frame is withdrawn into the case or cabinet, so as to lock the said bedstead-frame in this position.

The operation of myinvention is as followsr Assuming that the bedstead -frame is in its normal position when extended from the case or cabinet, as shown in Fig. 3, the same may be caused to run into the case or cabinet and be concealed from sight by turning the winch or drum, so as to cause the latter to wind up the ropes or cords D. As the bedstead-frame moves into the case or cabinet, each pair of studs Oin succession engage the lower flanges or cams, F, of-the plates E, and cause the said studs to move vertically and thereby lift the free ends of the arms W from the notches in the front and rear upper corners of the pieces L, so as to disconnect the said pieces L and permit the same to turn on their hinged or pivotal joints, and thereby enable the bedstead frame to traverse the curved guides 0. As the free end of each arm WV rises, the stud B moves downward in the curved inner end of the slot A, said slots permitting the said arms 7 to play longitudinally on the said studs, while the bedstead-frame is arranged in its curved position within the case or cabinet.

When the bedstead-frame is entirely within the case or cabinet, its foot-board R comes flush with the outer side of the case or cabinet, so as to close the same and thereby en'- tirely conceal the bed.

Before moving the bed into the case or cabinet the board 0 is turned down to a horizontal position and caused to be engaged by the hooks E, so as to compress the board 0 so firmly on the bed-clothing at the head of the bed as to prevent the same from slipping down when the bedstead is run into the ease or cabinet.

In order to extend the bedstead from the case or cabinet,it is only necesssary to trip the latch or bolt which secures the foot-board R to the front side of the case or cabinet, when the bedstead will by its own gravity move downward and outward in the guides 0. As each pair of pieces L in succession engage the lower horizontal portion of said guides and straighten out into a horizontal line, the studs O of their arms W are engaged by the inner upturned ends of the curved flanges or cams G and moved downward so as to force the ends of said arms or links into the recesses at the front and rear upper corners of the innermost pair of pieces, L, and thereby couple the upper edges of the said pieces so firmly together that the sides of the bedstead will be maintained in a perfectly horizontal position and will be prevented from yielding under the weight of the occupant of the bed.

The downturned lips or portions Y at the ends of the link-arms serve to prevent the bedstead from being bowed upward in the center in case any person should draw outward on the upper edge of the foot-board, the sides of the bedstead being thereby rendered inflexible in either direction when said bedstead is extended from the case or cabinet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the case or cabinet having its sides composed ofthe pieces L, hinged together in pairs at their lower corners and having their opposing ends inclined upward in opposite directions, whereby the bedstead is rendered flexible, the longitudinally-slotted link-arms W, pivoted to one of each pair of pieces L, and the studs projecting from the said pieces and engaging the said slots, whereby the sides of the bedstead are rendered inflexible when the same is ex-' tended from the case, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the case or cabinethaving the curved guides O,of the bedstead having its sides composed of pieces L, the hinges connecting the, lower corners of said pieces, the link-arms W, pivoted at one end to the upper corner of each piece L, said linkarms having the slots A, and the studs B, projecting from the companion pieces L and engaging the said slots, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the case or cabinet .having the curved guideways O, the bedstead having its sides composed of the pieces L, flexibly connected together in series, the linkarms WV, hinged at one end to the pieces L, and having their free ends engaging recesses or notches in the companion pieces L, and provided with studs 0, and the cams secured to the case or cabinet and adapted to engage the said stud, so as to disconnect the free ends of In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my the link-arms from the pieces L,when thebedown I have hereto affixed my signature in presstead is moved into the case or cabinet, and ence of two witnesses.

cause said free ends of the link-arms to en- BRITTON POULSON. 5 gage the said recesses When the bedstead is Witnesses:

extended from the case or cabinet, for the pnr- E. G. SIGGERS,

pose set forth, substantially as described. G. WV. SIGGERs. 

